The festival will feature various activities and events, including a grand inaugural ceremony, a closing award ceremony, panel discussions, master classes, and screenings of top-nominated national and international full-length films, human rights films, short films, documentaries, women's films, children's films, and animation films. In addition, there will be Q&A sessions with filmmakers, directors, and producers following the screenings..

The NCIFF also aims to provide opportunities for students, independent filmmakers, and industry professionals to learn from guest experts and judges about filmmaking, related media, and the film business. It encourages cultural diversity and invites industry professionals to attend and share their experiences.

This year's specific theme for the film festival is "Human Rights," which aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDGs 16 (Peace and Justice), 5 (Gender Equality), 1 (No Poverty), 3 (Good Health and Well-being), 4 (Quality Education), and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). The festival intends to contribute to the achievement of these SDGs by raising awareness about human rights issues and their impact on access to education, health, financial stability, and overall quality of life.

Festival sponsorships will be utilized to produce the festival film and facilitate the participation of filmmakers and artists from around the world. Furthermore, a separate master class will be organized for national and international filmmakers to provide them with additional learning opportunities and exposure.

By focusing on human rights and promoting films that address this theme, the 5th Nepal Cultural International Film Festival-2023 aims to inspire young talent in filmmaking and contribute to the sustainable development goals, making them achievable by 2030